Railway switch operating apparatus



Dec. 12, 1939. w. c. M WHIRTER ET AL 2,133,165

RAILWAY SWITCH OPERATING APPARATUS Original Filed June 17, 1937 5 s t -s t 1 Zmvcntors [New and l l l lev.

Edwi \BY 'IWEIQ Gttomcg Dec. 12, 1939. w. c. MCWHHIQITER ET AL 2,183,165

RAILWAY SWITCH OPERATING APPARATUS Original Filed June 17, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 THEIR attorney DeQ 1939- w. c. MCWHIRTER ET AL 2,183,155

RAILWAY SWITCH OPERATING APPARATUS Original Filed June 17, 1937 5 3 s 4 o o @l m THE/R mtonzcu Dec. 12, 9 w. c. M WHIRTER ET m. 2,183,165

RAILWAY SWITCH OPERATING APPARATUS I Original Filed June 17, 1957 5 sheets sheet 5 Snnentors Patented Dec. 12, 1939 PATENT OFFICE RAILWAY SWITCH OPERATING APPARATUS William O. McWhirter and Edwin G. Little,

Wilkinsburg, Pa.,

assignors to The Union Switch & Signal Company, Swissvale, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Original application June 17, 1937, Serial No.

Divided and this application November 19, 1938, Serial N0. 241,471

30 Claims.

Our invention relates to railway switch operating apparatus.

One object of our invention is the provision of a novel and improved circuit controller for detecting any failure of the switch points to occupy their proper positions relative to the stock rails in either extreme position of the switch.

Another object of our invention is the provision of a novel and improved latching mechanism which may be incorporated into the circuit controller when desired, and which when utilized, provides means whereby, if the indication contacts of the circuit controller are improperly forced open, as by a train trailing the switch, when the switch points are locked in either extreme position, these contacts will be positively held open by the latching mechanism until the latching mechanism is manually operated to release the contacts.

Other objects and characteristic features of our invention will appear as the description proceeds.

The present application is a division of our copending application Serial No. 148,706, filed on June 17, 1937, for Railway switch operating apparatus.

We shall describe one form of apparatus embodying our invention, and shall then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a top plan view showing a frog layout A operated by a switch machine M embodying our invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view on an enlarged scale of the switch machine M shown in Fig. l,

the several covers of the machine being removed to better illustrate the construction and. arrangement of the circuit controller. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a portion of the "operating and locking mechanism of the switch machine illustrated in Fig. 2. Figs. 4 and 5 are detail views showing the operating and locking mechanism illustrated in Fig. 3 in different operating positions. Fig. 6 is a top plan view showing, on an enlarged scale, a portion of the circuit controller G forming part of the switch machine M illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 and embodying our present invention. Fig. 7 is a top plan view showing some of the details of construction of the circuit controller G. Fig. 8 is a top plan View with the contacts removed, of the circuit controller shown in Figs. 2, 6, and 7. Fig. 9 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the circuit controller G shown in Fig. 2 with certain of the parts removed to better illustrate the construction of the remaining parts. Fig. 10 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view of the circuit controller shown in Fig. 2.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of the several views.

Referring first to Fig. 1, the reference character A designates a movable point frog, and the reference character M designates a switch machine embodying our invention for operating the frog A.

The frog A is of standard construction, and comprises the usual stock rails RR between which are movably mounted two pairs of switch points P P and P P respectively, such pairs being disposed in opposed relation and having their confronting ends connected by front rods l and l respectively. The switch points P P are i also connected together by the usual head rod 2 and the switch points P P are similarly connected together by the usual head rod 2 The head rod 2*, in turn, is connected through the usual switch basket 3 with one end of a throw rod 4, the other end of which is pivotally connected to one arm 5 of a bell crank lever 5. The bell crank lever 5 is pivotally supported in the trackway at 6, and the other arm 5 thereof is connected, by means of a connecting link I, with the corresponding arm 8 of a similar bell crank lever 8 which is pivotally supported in the trackway at 9. The remaining arm 8 of a bell crank lever B is connected, by means of a connecting rod 10 and a screw jaw ll) with a throw rod H, which throw rod, in turn, is connected with the head rod 2 by means of a switch basket 3 The throw rod H extends under one switch point P and the one stock rail R, and is connected at its free end with the longitudinally movable operating rod 0' of the switch machine M. It will be apparent, therefore, from an examination of the drawing that when the operating rod 0 is actuated by the switch machine, the switch points P P and P P will be simultaneously reversed.

The upper ends of the front rods l and l extend underneath the stock rail R and are operatively connected with two lock rods L and L which project into the switch machine M. These look rods are of standard construction, and each comprises two longitudinally adjustable bars l2 and i3 arranged side by side. Each bar I2 is provided in its opposite edges with a short notch i2 and a long notch H and each bar I3 is similarly provided in its opposite edges with a short notch l3 and a long notch l3". The two notches in each bar are spaced apart a distance which is substantially equal to the switch stroke, and the bars are so adjusted that the long notch in each bar is disposed directly opposite the short notch in the other contiguous bar.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 3, the switch machine, in the form here illustrated, comprises a suitable casing I l consisting of two separate boxlike castings Hi and [li secured to a base plate Mi The casting 14 is closed at its upper end by a removable cover M and the casting M is closed at its upper end by removable covers M and M (see Fig. 1). The base plate M is secured to two adjacent ties at the outer side of the rail I, and formed partly in the base plate and partly in the castings M and Hi are suitable guideways which slidably receive the operating rod and the two lock rods L and L Slidably mounted in the base plate I-"l directly below the operating rod 0 and the two lock rods L and L and intersecting the operating rod 0 and the two lock rods L and L at right angles, is a slide bar N. Attached to or formed integral with, the upper side of this slide bar near its right-hand end, as viewed in Fig. 3, are three spaced locking dogs i6, I1, and 18, the two outer ones of which l8 and 58 are in the form of rectangular blocks, and the middle one of which ii is in the form of a T-shaped block having its upper surface formed with rack teeth for a purpose which will appear hereinafter. The locking dogs 56, ll, and iii are adapted to selectively enter certain ones of the aligned notches in the bars [2 and iii to lock the switch points of the movable frog A in their extreme positions in a manner which will be described in detail hereinafter.

For the purpose of actuating the operating rod 0 and the slide bar N to effect their respective operating and locking functions in the intended manner, we provide an operating mechanism comprising a vertically disposed switch actuating shaft 20 which is journalled in suitable bearings not shown. The shaft 28 is disposed with its axis located at one side of the point of intersection of the operating rod 0 and the slide bar N, and is provided at its lower end with a crank 30 which is formed integrally with the shaft. This crank extends in opposite directions from the shaft, and is provided at one end with a depending pin (M which carries two superposed rollers 32 and 33, and at the other end with a depending pin 3 t which carries a roller 35. The roller 32 cooperates with a slot 36 which extends longitudinally of a cross arm 3'! formed integrally with the operating rod 0, while the two rollers 33 and 35 cooperate respectively with oppositely disposed arcuate slots 38 and 39 formed in a motion plate 46 which is secured to the upper side of the slide bar N adjacent its left-hand end. The slot 36 is provided with straight side wall portions Et and 33 which extend from its medial portions to its right-hand end where these straight side wall portions merge into a curved end portion 36, and with outwardly curved side wall portions 33 and 3:": which describe an arc, and which extend from the medial portion of the slot to its left-hand end where these curved side wall portions merge into a curved end portion 36. The confronting ends of each of the two arcuate slots 38 and 39 in the motion plate 40 are formed with relatively short straight parallel portions 38 and 38 and with curved oifset portions 38* and 39 The opposite ends of the slots 38 and 39 terminate at their outer sides in straight parallel portions 38 and 39.

The operation, as a whole, of the portion of the switch machine thus far described is as follows: When the operating rod 0 and the slide bar N are in their normal positions in which they are shown in Fig. 3, and the switch points are in their corresponding positions in which they are shown in Fig. l, the locking dogs [6, ii, and H3 and the lock rods L and L occupy the relative positions in which they are shown in Fig. 3. That is to say, the locking dog it is within the lower pair of notches in the lock rod L and the locking dog I! is within the upper pair of notches in the lock rod L It will be readily understood that under these conditions, any thrust on the switch points tending to move them away from their normal positions, such for example as a thrust due to an improper trailing move will be resisted by the dogs E and IT, and it follows, therefore, that the switch points are securely locked in their normal positions by the dogs l6 and i7.

When it is desired to reverse the switch points, the shaft 20 is rotated in a clockwise direction to rotate the crank 36 in the same direction. This rotation of the crank 36 causes the roller 33 to engage the arcuate slot 38 at the offset portion 38*, whereby the slide bar N is moved toward the right, as viewed in Fig. 3 far enough to withdraw the locking dog l6 from the notches 2 and i3 in the lock rod L the locking dog 5! being simultaneously withdrawn from the notches l3 and l2 in the lock rod L thus unlocking the switch points P P and P P During this movement of the crank the roller 32 whose initial position was at the left-hand end of the slot 32- is moved to the medial portion of the slot, or at the junction of the curved and straight walls thereof, but due to the curvature of the upper curved wall 36 this movement of the roller does not cause the operating rod 0 to be moved. It will be seen, therefore, that during the first part of the movement of the crank 38, the slide bar N is moved to unlock the switch points, but the operating rod 0, and hence the switch points, remain stationary. However, in the continued movement of the crank 30, the roller 32 engages the straight side wall portion 36 of the slot 36 in the operating rod 0 and imparts sufiicient movement to the operating rod in the general direction in which the operating rod is being moved to completely reverse the switch points. During the greater part of this portion of the movement of the crank, the roller 33 engages the slot 38 in the motion plate 48 within the curved parallel sides thereof, so that the crank then serves as a locking means for the slide bar N to prevent longitudinal movement of the slide bar. When the switch points have been moved to their mid stroke positions, movement of the slide bar N is prevented by engagement of the rollers 33 and 35 with the outer side walls 38 and 39 of the two slots 38 and 39 to hold the slide bar N in its intermediate position in which all of the locking dogs are out of engagement with the associated lock rods, as shown in Fig. 4. The movement of the switch points to their reverse positions moves the lock rods L and L from the relative positions in which they are shown in Fig. 3 to the relative positions in which they are shown in Fig. 5, so that the notches l2 and 53 in the lock rod L are then in alignment with the locking dog l7, and the notches l2 and 13 in the lock rod L are in alignment with the looking dog l8. Upon further continued rotation of the crank 30, roller 35 moves into engagement with the straight portion 39 of the slot 39 in the motion plate 40, and imparts a second movement to the slide bar N in the same direction as the first movement, this latter movement being sufficient to cause the locking dog H to enter the notches l2 and it in the lock rod L and the dog l8 to enter the notches l2 and I3 in the lock rod L as shown in Fig. 5, thus locking the switch points in their reverse positions. It should be pointed out that the parts are so proportioned that a sufficient amount of idle travel of the shaft 2h will take place between the time the roller 32 moves out of engagement with the straight side wall portion 35 of the slot 36 and the time the roller 35 moves into engagement with the straight portion 39* of the slot 39 in the motion plate it to insure that if the locking dogs I? and it are prevented from entering the respective notches in the lock rods L and L for any reason, due for example, to the lock rods being misadjusted or becoming damaged, the switch movement will not become stalled until after the switch points have reached their full reverse positions and are held in these positions by the coaction between the roller 35 and the slot 39 in the motion plate m. It should also be pointed out that when the switch points are locked in their reverse positions, any thrust tending to open the points is then taken by the locking dogs I? and it, thus insuring an effective locking of the switch points under these conditions. It will be noted from the foregoing that the movement of the operating rod which reverses the switch points is subsequent to the initial movement of the slide bar which unlocks the switch points, but in advance of the final movement of the slide bar which looks the switch points in their reverse positions.

In order to restore the switch points to their normal positions after they have been reversed, as above described, the shaft 20 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction to rotate the crank 35 in this direction. The subsequent movements of the operating rod and slide bar above described are maintained under these conditions, but the directions of the movements are reversed.

Mounted in the right-hand end of the casting M above the lock rods L and L and the slide bar N is a circuit controller G which also embodies our invention. As best seen in Figs. 6 to 10, this circuit controller comprises a suitable supporting framework lEliJ provided with end members lim and Hit and having adjustably mounted in its sides aligned bearings IQ! and 592 in which a horizontal camshaft I93 is journalled. The camshaft I83, which is of rectangular cross section except for a rounded portion at each end which fits into the associated hearing, is adapted to be rotated or oscillated in response to the longitudinal movements of the slide bar N, and for this purpose the shaft l 93 has fixed ther to a gear wheel 1% which meshes with an intermediate idler gear E95 driven by the rack teeth provided on the upper face of the locking dog ll of the slide bar N. The idler gear 595 is journalled on a pin We (see Figs. 9 and 10) mounted in a depending portion l 97 of the frame 5%. Mounted on the camshaft I83 on opposite sides of the gear wheel We are a plurality of driving collars of insulating material, each designated by the reference character Hi8 with a suitable distinguishing exponent. Each driving collar W8 is provided with a square hole which has a sliding fit on the camshaft 593, and as clearly shown in Fig. 10, each driving collar comprises a comparatively narrow web and peripheral flange extending in each direction from the outer edge of the web. A portion of the peripheral flange of each driving collar is tapered, and the tapered portion is provided with serrations or teeth (not shown) around its entire circumference. Each driving collar I98 carries a contact segment of electroconductive material designated by the reference character I99 with the same distinguishing exponent as the exponent for the reference character of the associated collar. Each contact segment W9 is in the form of the segment of a ring, the bore of which is tapered to fit the tapered portion of the periphery of the associated driving collar. The bore of each driving collar is also provided with serrations or teeth (not shown) which match the teeth on the periphery of the insulated driving collars. Each contact segment E99 cooperates at its periphery with two contact fingers designated by the reference characters 290 and Zill, respectively, with the same distinguishing exponent as the reference character for the associated contact segment. For example, the contact segment lee cooperates with the contact fingers 280 and 28 l to at times close a contact 2llil -l99 2fil The periphery of each contact segment may have any desired length, and due to the mating teeth on the driving collars, the segment may be turned to any desired position relative to the camshaft i523. As here shown, the parts are so proportioned and the contact segments are of such length and are so disposed on the shaft H93 that the contacts 2fiil -l99 2ll and 2Qfi -l99 2dl will be closed at all times except when the slide bar N is in the extreme position in which it locks the switch points in their normal positions in which they are shown in Fig. 1, and that the contacts Zilll -EBS -Zill and 2fifi l99 El will be closed at all times except when the slide bar N is in the extreme position in which it looks the switch points in the positions reverse to that in which they are shown in Fig. 1. The contacts ZilW-lilQ -Zfil 20 l% -2ill ens res 2fll and ZGEW-HNN-Btl may be used in a wellknown manner to control the circuits for the motor which operates the switch machine M, or for any other desired purpose.

The circuit controller also comprises a pair of contact fingers 265 which are connected together for simultaneous movement by an insulating bridge 205 and a pair of contact fingers 2'65 which are connected together for simultaneous movement by an insulating bridge 28t The fingers 255 and 285 are biased by their own resiliency to lower positions in which they engage associated lower stationary contact members Zill' and MP to close a pair of contacts Ew -ibi and a pair of contacts we -291 but are adapted to be at times moved upwardly, by means of a point detector mechanism which we will now describe, to upper positions in which they engage an upper stationary contact member 299 to thereby close a contact 2D5 -2092il5 The point detector mechanism is controlled jointly by the slide bar N and by a pair of detector rods H and H which are slidably mounted in the casting M of the switch machine for movement in directions parallel to the operating rod 0, and in the form here shown comprises a detector plate 2H and a driving plate 2l2. The detector plate 2H is slidably mounted on machined surfaces i93 (see Fig, 7) formed on the end members mil and Hlfl of the frame l fl, for movement at right angles to the camshaft H33 in parallel spaced relation thereto, and is guided laterally by means of two rollers 2l3 which are mounted on depending pins secured to the detector plate, and which ride in guideways i93 formed in the end members 995: and wil Vertical displacement of the detector plate is prevented by a pair of hold-down pieces 25 3, which hold-down pieces are fastened to bosses formed on the end members Hid and I98 adjacent the opposite corners of the de ector plate, and which project over the upper surface of the detector plate with some clearance. Mounted on the underside of the detector plate are four rollers, two of which H5 and 256 cooperate with the point detector rod H (see Fig. 'l), and the remaining two of which 2H5 and 2h? cooperate with the point detector rod H The detector rods H and H are adjustably connected by means of connecting rods Ell and 2 ll (see Fig. l) and point lugs 228 and 2E3 with the front rods i and l respectively, and it will be apparent, therefore, that any movement of the switch points will cause corresponding longitudinal movement of the detector rods. Each of the detector rods is provided at the end which is connected to the associated connecting rod with a reduced portion 225] (see Fig. '7), and adjustably mounted on this reduced portion is a sleeve 22! which forms, with the portion of the detector rod which is not reduced, an annular recess 222. The parts are so adjusted that the recess 222 in the detector rod H will align with the roller and the recess 222 in the detector rod H will align with the roller 2 I6 when and only when the switch points occupy their normal positions in which they are shown in Fig, l; and that, the recess 222 in the detector rod H will align with the roller 2 l 6, and the recess 222 in the detector rod H will align with the roller 255 when and only when the switch points occupy the extreme position opposite to that in which they are shown in Fig. 1. It is obvious that when the recesses 222 in the detector rods H and H align with the rollers 2&5 and 25t the detector plate 2M is free to move to the left to a normal position in which the rollers- 2E5 and 2555 enter the associated recesses, in which position the detector plate is shown in the drawings, and that when the recesses in the detector rods H and PP align with the rollers 255 and 215 the detector plate 2H is then free to move toward the right to a reverse extreme position in which the rollers 2 it and 2 l 5 enter the associated rece see. The parts are so proportioned that when either one of the recesses is out of alignment with both of the associated rollers, these rollers will cooperate with the associated detector rod to force the detector plate to, and hold it in, a position approximately midway between its two extreme positions.

The driving plate 252 is slidably mounted guideways 225 provided on the detector plate 2 on opposite sides of a rectangular opening 2'. formed therein, and is arranged to be moved b tween an intermediate and two extreme positions in response to the movement of the slide bar N between its intermediate and two extreme positions, by means of two cams 22'! and 1228 which are mounted on the camshaft on opposite sides of the gear wheel I86, and which cooperate with two rollers 2 3 and 239 secured to uprights 23l formed on the driving plate. A. driving arm 232 (see Fig. 8) is pivotally attached at one end to the detector plate 2i i by means of an upstanding pin 233, and is provided intermediate its ends with a rectangular slot 23d which slidably receives a cross-head block 235 pivoted on an upstanding pin 236 secured to the driving plate. The free end of the driving arm 232 carries a roller 232 which cooperates with a radial notch 23? provided in an operating arm 23:. he operating arm 23'! is pivoted at one end on a pin 238 secured to the detector plate 2! l, and is operatively connected at the other end with a tension spring 239 which is stretched between the arm and a projecting lug 240 formed on the detector plate. The tension of the spring 239 is such that under normal operating conditions the roller 232 will remain in the notch 23?, and it will be apparent that as long as the roller remains in this notch the detector plate will move in response to, and in unison with, the driving plate 2K2, but that, if the roller 23? is forced out of the notch 23? in the arm 23?, the detector plate can then move independently of the driving plate, or vice versa.

An L-shaped latch dog 2 12 is pivotally attached intermediate its ends to the detector plate 2H, and is biased by means of a coil spring 2 23 to a latching position in which a notch 2 32 in the arm receives a latch lug 237 formed on the operating arm provided the operating arm is then moved outwardly to the csition which it occupies when the roller is forced out of the notch 23'! in the arm 23?. The spring 243 abuts at one end against an upstanding lug 2 22" formed on the short arm of the latch dog 22-2, and. at the other end against an upstanding lug 26 5 formed on a latch arm 2%. The latch arm 2 24 is pivotally mounted at one end on the pin 238 underneath the operating arm 237, and is constantly biased by means of the compressed spring 263 to a latching position in which a notch 2 26 formed in its outer side is adapted to receive a latch catch 2 15 secured to the frame i539. The tension spring 239 is somewhat stronger than the compression spring 243 and provided on the operating arm 237 is a vertically oliset laterally projecting portion 23l which cooperates with the lug 2-2? at its outer side to prevent the latch arm from moving to its latching position except when the roller 23?. is forced out of the notch 237 in the operating arm 237. The parts are so proportioned that the notch 2 34 will align with the latch catch 235 when and only when the detector plate l occupies its intermediate position.

As will appear hereinafter, it is desirable to be able to at times prevent the latch dog from moving to its latching position, and for this purpose the latch dog is provided with a hole 25,2 which, when the latch dog is rotated in a counterclockwise direction through a slight angle from the position shown to a position in which the lug 2537 is clear of the side of the latch dog 242, aligns with a tapped hole 2 26 provided in the detector plate. The hole 246 is adapted to receive a screw 24?, and it will be apparent that when the screw 25'! is in place in the two aligned holes, the latch dog 242 will be held in a fixed position in which it is out of engagement with the latch lug 237 on the operating arm 23?. In order that the screw 2 will always be available, the detector plate is provided with a second screw threaded hole 268 (see Fig. '7) in which the screw 247 is normally kept, and the latch dog 242 is provided with an arcuate slot 242 which, when the screw 24? is in the hole 268, receives the head of the screw with sufficient clearance to permit the normal intended movement of the latch dog.

The upper side of the detector plate 2! l is provided on opposite sides of the driving plate 2I2 with rack teeth 2| l and 2! l respectively, which mesh with gear segments 250 and 250 formed on cam members 25l and 250. The cam members 25M and 25d are journalled on bushings 2552 and 252 which are mounted on the camshaft I93 on opposite sides of the cam members 221 and 228, and are maintained in the proper longitudinal positions to engage the rack teeth by means of annular flanges 253 and 253 formed on the bushings, and washers 254 and 25 1 which are interposed between the bushings and the adjacent driving collars I98 and I98. The cam member 25! is provided, in addition to the gear segment 25!! with an upwardly extending cam segment 255 which is adapted to cooperate with a roller 256 carried by the insulating bridge 28t and the cam member 25H is likewise provided, in addition to the gear segment 250 with an upwardly extending cam segment 25% which is adapted to cooperate with the roller 256 carried by the insulating bridge 266*. The upper portion of the cam segments 255 and 255 as here shown, are curved, and are slightly more than twice as wide as the rollers 256 and 255 Formed in the upper surface of the cam segment 255 adjacent the opposite ends therein in laterally spaced relation are two recesses or notches 251 and 258* (see Figs. 8 and 9) of such length and size that when either one of these notches is in alignment with the roller 256 the contact fingers 2% will be free to move, due to their bias, to their lowermost positions. The roller 25G is loosely mounted on a laterally extending pin 25 which is slidably mounted at its opposite ends in vertical slots 26W formed in depending lugs 26! provided on a roller support 262 and the roller support 252*, in turn, is secured to the insulating bridge 2% by means of a tap bolt 26t (Fig. 9). The tap bolt 2653 extends downwardly through an elongated vertical slot 2% (Fig. 6) formed in the bridge 206 and is screwed at its lower end in a tapped hole 265 provided in the roller support. Formed on the upper side of the roller support 262 are serrations Zlili which cooperate with serrations 261* formed on the underside of the bridge 2% in such manner that by loosening the bolt 283 the roller supports may be shifted longitudinally relative to the fingers 205 through a limited distance to take care of manufacturing variations in the assembled parts, and to obtain the proper timing of the contacts. The pin 259* is of sufiicient length, and the parts are so proportioned that when the pin is at the lower end of the slots 260 the roller 258 can be slid longitudinally along the pin from a position in which it will enter the notch 25G in the cam segment 255 when this cam segment is rotated to one extreme position, to a position in which it will enter the notch 25? in the cam segment 255 when the cam segment is rotated to its other extreme position. When, however, the pin is in the upper ends of the slots 260 the-roller 256 is held in the proper position-to cooperate with the one notch or the other, as the case may be, by a vertically disposed wall 268 (Fig. 10) which is provideclon the roller support for this purpose. The upper end of the wall 2% extends into a groove 26 formed in the underside of the insulating support 208 and acts as a. guide to position the roller support laterally with respect to the insulating bridge. The parts are further so proportioned that when the roller 256 is out of both of the notches 257 and 258 the fingers 2053 will be lifted by engagement of the roller with the upper surface of the cam segment 255 to their upper positions. The cam segment 255 is similar in construction to the cam segment 255 and the parts of this cam segment are designated by the same reference characters as the corresponding parts of the cam segment 255*, but with the exponent 0, added thereto in place of the exponent b. The means for securing the roller 256 to the insulating bridge 25t is likewise similar to the means for securing the roller 25t to the bridge 206*, and the parts of these two means are designated by the same reference characters with suitable distinguishing exponents.

The operation as a whole of the portion of the circuit controller thus far described is as follows: As shown in the drawings, the switch points occupy their full normal positions and are locked in these positions by the slide bar N, and under these conditions, the camshaft 193 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 9, to what we shall term its normal extreme position, so that the motor control contacts 200- I9920l and 2ilil --|99 -20i are closed, and the motor control contacts 2fl0=*l99=-29l and 2lll i99 2!ll are open. Furthermore, under these conditions, the driving plate 2 is moved to its left-hand or normal extreme position by the cam 22'! and roller 229, and since the notches 222 and the point detector rods H and I-I are then in alignment with the rollers 2l5 and ZIE so that the detector plate 2H is free to move to its left-hand extreme position, the detector plate is moved to its left-hand or normal extreme position through the medium of the driving arm 232 and the operating arm 231. When the detector plate 2!! occupies its normal extreme position, the cam members 252 and 252 are rotated in a clockwise direction to their normal extreme positions, and the rollers 256 and 25G are disposed in such positions on the associated pins 259* and 259 that, under these conditions, the contacts 2G5 2lll are open and the contacts 2fl5 -2fi'l are closed.

We will now assume that with the parts in the positions just described, the switch machine is operated to move the switch points from their normal positions to their reverse positions. During the first or unlocking part of the resultant movement of the slide bar N, no motion of the switch points takes place for the reasons pointed out hereinbefore, but during this movement, the camshaft I93 is rotated in a clockwise direction to its intermediate position, and this movement causes the contacts 2IlI)*---i9l9 ---2ill and 200 lim -20F to become closed. This movement also causes the driving plate 2l2 to move to its intermediate position due to the coaction between the cam 228 and the roller 23B, and this latter movement, in turn, moves the detector plate 2 to its intermediate position, thereby causing the cam members 25I and 25! to rotate to their intermediate positions. The rotation of the cam members 25! and 251i to their intermediate po sitions causes both rollers 256 and 25G to ride on the high portions of the cam members, thus causing the contacts 2|l5 ZiI1 to become opened and contact 2ll5 2092U5 to become closed. The movement of the detector plate 2!! to its intermediate position also moves the rollers 215 and M6 out of the recesses 222 in the point detector rods H and I-I and it will be apparent, therefore, that during the movement of the switch points to their reverse positions, all of the rollers 2l5 215 2l6 and 216 are clear of the point detector rods so that the resultant movement of the point detector rods will not cause any movement of the detector plate. After the switch points have reached their full reverse positions, the final or locking movement of the slide bar N which then takes place will rotate the camshaft I93 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 9, from its intermediate to its reverse extreme position, thereby opening contacts 2iiil9929i and 20ll i99 20i This rotation of the camshaft i93 will also act through the cam 223 and the roller 238 to move the driving plate 2E2 to its reverse extreme position, and since the notches 222 in the point detector rods will then be in alignment with the rollers 2 m and 215 so that the detector plate is free to move to its reverse extreme position, the movement of the driving plate 2E2 will act through the driving arm 232 and the operating arm 23? to move the detector plate to its reverse extreme position in which the rollers 2H3 and 265 are disposed within the aligned notches 222. The movement of the detector plate will rotate the cam members 251 and 25 I in a. counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 9, from their intermediate to their reverse extreme positions, and when the cam member 25i reaches its reverse extreme position, the roller 256 will enter the notch 253 and will thus allow the contact fingers 2G5 to drop to their lowermost positions, thereby opening contact 205 209205 and closing contacts 2B5 2tl7 It should be noted that inasmuch as the driving and detector plates move in unison in the manner just described during reversal of the switch points by the switch machine, all parts of the latch mechanism will remain in the relative positions shown under these conditions, and the latch mechanism does not, therefore, have any effect on the operation of the circuit controller under these conditions.

If, after the switch points have been moved to their reverse extreme positions, the switch machine is subsequently operated to restore the switch points to their normal positions, the operation of the circuit controller will be exactly the reverse of that just described, and it is believed, therefore, that this operation will be apparent from the foregoing and from an inspection of the drawings without further detailed description.

We will now assume that with the parts in the positions in which they are shown in the drawings, the detector rod H is moved upwardly, due, for example, to a train trailing the switch. This movement will force the roller 2W out of the recess 222 in the detector rod, thereby forcing the detector plate 2! I toward the right, as viewed in Fig. '7, to its intermediate position, and since the driving plate 2i2 is now held stationary by the cam 22'! and the roller 229, the driving arm 232 will be rotated in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 8, about the pin 233 an amount which is approximately twice the distance that the detector plate is moved. This rotation will force the roller 232 out of the notch 23? in the operating arm 23? and onto the curved side of this arm adjacent the notch, thereby causing the operating arm to rotate in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 8, about the pin 238, and hence causing the spring 239 to become stretched beyond its initial tension. The operating arm 231 on each side of the notch 231 has a curved surface having a radius whose center is the pin 233, so that when the roller 232 engages this surface, the force due to the spring 239 does not tend to drive the detector plate 2!! longitudinally. The counterclockwise rotation of the operating arm 23? under these conditions moves the lug 23'l' upwardly, as viewed in Fig. to a position in which it aligns with the notch 242 in the latch dog 242, whereupon the latch dog rotates in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 8, due to the bias of the spring 24-3, to its latching position in which the notch 24-2 receives the lug 23%, thereby causing the operating arm to be subsequently retained in its displaced position. The movement of the operating arm 23? also permits the spring 243 to drive the atch arm 244 to the position in which the latch catch 265 enters the notch 24 2 The movement of the detector plate 2!! to its intermediate position further causes the cam members 255 and 225i to rotate to their intermediate positions, thereby causing the contacts 235 26? to become opened.

After the parts have once been moved to their latching positions, they will subsequently remain in these positions until the latch mechanism is operated to restore these parts to their normal positions. This may be done provided the switch points have not been damaged, or if they have been damaged provided they have been subsequently repaired, by applying a squeezing action against the lugs 262' and Mi by means of the thumb and fingers. This squeezing action will rotate the latch dog 2 32 in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 8, to an unlatching position in which the lug 231 is clear of the notch M2 and will also move the side of the latch arm 264 into engagement with the roller 23 and will rotate the latch arm to the position in which the notch 2 54- is clear of the latch catch 245. The side of the latch arm 24 t adjacent the roller is so shaped that a reasonable pressure applied by the fingers to the latch arm will restore the roller i232 to its normal position in which it aligns with the notch 231 by causing the detector plate 2H to move longitudinally. When the roller 232 reaches the position in which it aligns with the notch 235i in the operating arm 23'.', the spring 239 will move the operating arm to a position in which the roller 232 enters the notch 237 after which the spring will then become effective to hold the plates 2H and 222 in their normal relative positions until the next trailing move occurs.

If the detector rod I-l had been displaced downwardly instead of the detector rod Ii being displaced upwardly, under the conditions just described, the operation would have been identical with that just described except for the fact that the motion of the detector plate 2H toward the right under these conditions would have been due to the coaction between the roller EH5 and the recess 222 in the detector rod I-l Under some conditions, it is desirable to be able to reset the latch mechanism by operating the switch machine from one extreme position to its other extreme position, and when this is the case, the latch dog 242 will be rendered inoperative by removing the screw 2G from hole 268 and placing it in the aligned holes 242 and 24B. Assuming that the screw has been placed in the aligned holes 2 52 and 2%, and that the latch mechanism has been operated due, for example, to a train trailing the switch, the detector plate 2| i will be held in its intermediate position by the roller Zifi until the driving plate 212 is moved to its intermediate position by operation of the switch machine, at which time the roller 232 will drop into the notch 237 in the operating arm 23?, whereupon the force of the spring 239 acting through the operating arm 23'! and the lug 2M will rotate the latch arm to the position in which the notch 244 is out of engagement with the latch catch 245. When this happens, the detector plate will then be free to move in response to the movement of the driving plate 2! i, providing the switch points have not been damaged, or if they have been damaged and have been subsequently repaired, so that the rollers 2 l5 and ZIB are then free to enter the proper recesses 222 in the detector rods.

It is desirable in order to avoid changes in Wii ing for right-hand and left-hand installations to always have the normal indication circuits, which circuits are usually controlled by the contacts mt -201 and 205 -2ii'i of the circuit controller, completed over one particular contact. In order to permit this to be done, it is necessary to be able to readily reverse the operation of the contacts Zet -251 and 2o5 2lil With apparatus embodying our invention, this can be done by merely lifting the fingers (205 and 295* far enough to permit the pins 259* and 1 259 which support the rollers 256 and 25t to drop to the bottom of the slots 265 and 260 in the roller supports 262 and 262 and then sliding the rollers 256 and 255 along the pins 2555 and i259 from the one end of these pins to the other end of these pins and then releasing the fingers. This change in the position of the rollers will cause these rollers to cooperate with the other notches in the cam members 25% and 250 thereby effecting the desired reversal in the operation of the contact fingers. It should be noted that this change does not affect the adjustment of the contacts so that no further adjustment of the contacts need be made after the change has been made.

Although we have herein shown and described only one form of apparatus embodying our invention. it is understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from'the spirit and scope of our invention.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is:

1. A circuit controller comprising a detector rod provided with a notch and movable between two extreme positions, a detector plate provided with two rollers one of which aligns with said notch when and only when said detector rod occupies one extreme position and the other of which aligns with said notch when and only when said detector rod occupies its other extreme position, said detector plate being movable to one extreme position in which said one roller enters said notch, to an intermediate position in which both rollers are out of said notch and to another extreme position in which said other roller enters said notch, yieldable means for moving said detector plate between its two extreme positions, and contacts controlled by said detector plate.

2. A circuit controller comprising a detector rod provided with a notch and movable between two extreme positions; a detector plate provided with two rollers disposed on opposite sides of said detector rod and movable at right angles to said detector rod between one extreme position in which one of said rollers enters said notch, another extreme position in which the other roller enters said notch and an intermediate position in which both rollers are out of said notch, the parts being so proportioned that said notch will align with said one roller when and only when said detector rod occupies its one extreme position and with said other roller when and only when said detector rod occupies its other extreme position, yieldable means for moving said detector plate between its two extreme positions, and contacts selectively operated in accordance with the position of said detector plate.

3. A circuit controller comprising a detector rod provided with a notch and movable between two extreme positions, a detector plate provided with two rollers one of which aligns with said notch when and only when said detector rod occupies one extreme position and the other of which aligns with said notch when and only when said detector rod occupies its other extreme position, said detector plate being movable to one extreme position in which said one roller enters said notch, to an intermediate position in which both rollers are out of said notch and to another extreme position in which said other roller enters said notch, yieldable means for moving said detector plate between its two extreme positions, rack teeth provided on said detector plate, a cam member provided with a gear segment which meshes with said rack teeth, and a contact controlled by said cam member.

4. A circuit controller comprising a detector rod provided with a notch and movable between two extreme positions, a detector plate provided with two rollers one of which aligns with said notch when and only when said detector rod occupies one extreme position and the other of which aligns with said notch when and only when said detector rod occupies its other extreme position, said detector plate being movable to one extreme position in which said one roller enters said notch, to an intermediate position in which both rollers are out of said notch and to another extreme position in which said other roller enters said notch, a camshaft rotatable between an intermediate and two extreme positions, yieldable driving means for driving said detector plate between its two extreme positions in response to the movement of said camshaft between its two extreme positions, rack teeth provided on said detector plate, a cam member journalled on said camshaft and provided with a gear segment which meshes with said rack teeth, and a contact controlled by said cam member.

5. A circuit controller comprising a detector rod provided with a notch and movable between two extreme positions, a detector plate provided with two rollers one of which aligns with said notch when and only when said detector rod occupies one extreme position and the other of which aligns with said notch when and only when said detector rod occupies its other extreme position, said detector plate being movable to one extreme position in which said one roller enters said notch, to an intermediate position in which both rollers are out of said notch and to another extreme position in which said other roller enters said notch, a camshaft rotatable between two ex. treme positions, a driving plate slidably mounted .on said detector plate for movement between two extreme positions and operatively connected with said camshaft in such manner that said driving plate will be driven between two extreme positions in response to movement of said camshaft between its two extreme positions, means for normally causing said detector plate to move in unison with said driving plate but for at times permitting said two plates to move independently of each other, and a contact controlled by said detector plate.

6. A circuit controller comprising a detector rod provided with a notch and movable between two extreme positions, a detector plate provided with two rollers one of which aligns with said notch when and only when said detector rod occupies one extreme position and the other of which aligns with said notch when and only when said detector rod occupies its other extreme position, said detector plate being movable to one extreme position in which said one roller enters said notch, to an intermediate position in which both rollers are out of said notch, and to another extreme position in which said other roller enters said notch, a camshaft rotatable between two extreme positions, two cams secured to said camshaft, a driving plate slidably mounted on said detector plate and provided with two rollers which cooperate with said two cams respectively to cause said driving plate to move between two extreme positions in response to the movement of said camshaft between its two extreme positions, means for normally causing said detector plate to move in unison with said driving plate but for at times permitting said two plates to move independently of each other, and a contact controlled by said detector plate.

'7. A circuit controller comprising a detector rod provided with a notch and movable between two extreme positions, a detector plate provided with two rollers disposed on opposite sides of said detector rod and movable at right angles to said detector rod between an extreme position in. which the one roller enters said notch and another extreme position in which the other roller enters said notch, the parts being 50 proportioned that said notch will align with said one roller when and only when said detector rod occupies its one extreme position and with said other roller when and only when said detector rcd occupies its other extreme position, driving plate slidably mounted on said detector plate for movement between two extreme positions, a driving arm pivotally attached at one end to said detector plate and operatively connected intermediate its ends with said driving plate in such manner that relative movement of said two plates will cause said driving arm to rotate about its pivotal connection with said detector plate, a rolle' secured to the free end of said driving arm, an operating arm pivotally attached to said driving plate and provided in one side with a notch which cooperates with said roller and biased to a position in which said notch receives said roller with sufficient force to normally cause said two plates to move in unison, means for moving said driving plate between its two extreme positions, and a contact operated by said detector plate.

8. A circuit controller comprising a detector rod movable between two extreme positions, a detector plate movable between two extreme positions, means for preventing said detector plate from moving to its one extreme position unless said detector rod occupies its one extreme position and for preventing said detector plate from moving to its other extreme position unless said detector rod occupies its other extreme position and for moving said detector plate to an intermediate position when said detector rod is intermediate its two extreme positions, means for yieldably driving said detector plate between its two extreme positions, rack teeth on said detector plate, a cam having a gear segment meshing with said rack teeth, and a contact controlled by said cam.

9. A circuit controller comprising a detector rod movable between two extreme positions, a detector plate movable between two extreme positions, means for preventing said detector plate from moving to its one extreme position unless said detector rod occupies its one extreme position and for preventing said detector plate from mov ing to its other extreme position unless said detector rod occupies its other extreme position and for moving said detector plate to an intermediate position when said detector rod is intermediate its two extreme positions, means for yieldably driving said detector plate between its two ex-- treme positions, means for latching said detector plate in its intermediate position if it is moved to such position in response to the movement of said detector rod, and a contact controlled by said detector plate.

10. A circuit controller comprising a detector rod movable between two extreme positions, a detector plate movable between two extreme positions, means for preventing said detector plate from moving to its one extreme position unless said detector rod occupies its one extreme position and for preventing said detector plate from moving to its other extreme position unless said detector rod occupies its other extreme position for moving said detector plate to an intermediate position when said detector rod is intermediate its two extreme positions, a driving plate slidably mounted on said detector plate for movement between two extreme positions, a driving arm pivotally attached at one end to said detector plate and operatively connected intermediate its ends with said driving plate in such manner that relative movement of said two plates will cause said driving arm to rotate about its pivotal connection with said detector plate, a roller secured to the free end of said driving arm, an operating arm pivotally attached to said driving plate and provided in one side with a notch which cooperates with said roller and biased to a position in which said notch receives said roller with sufiicient force to normally cause said two plates to move in unison, means for moving said driving plate between its two extreme positions, and a contact operated by said detector plate.

11. A circuit controller comprising a detector rod movable between two extreme positions, a detector plate movable between two extreme po sitions, means for preventing said detector plate from moving to its one extreme position unless said detector rod occupies its one extreme position and for preventing said detector plate from moving to its other extreme position unless said detector rod occupies its other extreme position and for moving said detector plate to an intermediate position when said detector rod is intermediate its two extreme positions, a driving plate slida'oly mounted on said detector plate for movement between two extreme positions, a driving are pivotally attached at one end to said detector plate and operatively connected inter1nediate its ends with said driving plate in such manner that relative movement of said two plates will cause said driving arm to rotate about its pivotal connection with said detector plate, a roller secured to the free end of said driving arm, an operating arm pivotally attached to said driving plate and provided in one side with a notch which cooperates with said roller and biased to a position in which said notch receives said roller with sufficient force to normally cause said two plates to move in unison, means for latching said detector plate in its intermediate position if it is moved to such position in response to movement of said detector rod, and a contact controlled by said detector plate.

12. A circuit controller comprising a detector rod provided with a notch and movable between two extreme positions, a detector plate provided with two rollers disposed on opposite sides of said detector rod and movable at right angles to said detector rod between an extreme position in which the one roller enters said notch and another extreme position in which the other roller enters said notch, the parts being so proportioned that said notch will align with said one roller when and only when said detector rod occupies its one extreme position and with said other roller when and only when said detector rod occupies its other extreme position, a driving plate slidably mounted in said detector plate for movement between two extreme positions, a driving arm pivotally attached at one end to said detector plate and operatively connected intermediate its ends with said driving plate in such manner that relative movement of said two plates will cause said driving arm to rotate about its pivotal connection with said detector plate, a roller secured to the free end of said driving arm, an operating arm pivotally attached to said driving plate and provided in one side with a notch which cooperates with said roller and biased to a position in which said notch receives said roller with sui'ficient force to normally cause said two plates to move in unison, a latch dog pivotally attached to said detector plate and biased to a latching position, means on said operating arm cooperating with said latch dog for latching said operating arm in the position in which said roller is out of the notch in said latch arm if said roller is once forced out of the notch in said latch arm, means for moving said driving plate between its two extreme positions, and a contact controlled by said detector plate.

13. A circuit comprising a detector rod movable between two extreme positions, a detector plate cooperating with said detector rod, yieldable means for at times moving said detector plate to one extreme position if said detector rod then occupies its one extreme position and for at other times moving said detector plate to another extreme position if said detector rod then occupies its other extreme position, means for moving said detector plate to an intermediate position if said detector rod is moved away from either of its extreme positions when said detector plate occupies the corresponding extreme position, and a contact controlled by said detector plate.

144. A circuit comprising a detector rod movable between two extreme positions, a detector plate cooperating with said detector rod yieldable means for at times moving said detector plate to one extreme position if said detector rod then occupies its one extreme position and for at other times moving said detector plate to another extreme position if said detector rod then occupies its other extreme position, means for moving said detector plate to an intermediate position if said detector rod is moved away from either of its extreme positions when said detector plate occupies the corresponding extreme position, latch means for latching said detector plate in its intermediate extreme position when it is moved to such position by the movement of said detector rod, and a contact controlled by said detector plate.

15. A circuit controller comprising a detector rod movable between two extreme positions, a

detector plate cooperating with said detector rod in such manner that said detector plate is free to move to one extreme position when and only when said detector rod occupies its one extreme position and to another extreme position when and only when said detector rod occupies its other extreme position, means for moving said detector plate to an intermediate position ifsaid detector rod is moved away from either extreme position when said detector plate occupies a corresponding extreme position, a driving plate movable between two extreme positions, means including a driving arm carried by said detector plate and yieldably held in one position by spring means for normally causing said detector plate to move between its two extreme positions in response to the movement of said detector plate but for permitting said two plates to move relative to each otherif said detector plate is prevented from moving to either extreme position or is moved from either extreme position to its intermediate position by said detector rod, and a contact controlled by said detector plate.

16. A circuit controller comprising a detector rod movable between two extreme positions, a detector plate cooperating with said detector rod in such manner that said detector plate is free to move to one extreme position when and only when said detector rod occupies its one extreme position and to another extreme position when and only when said detector rod occupies its other extreme position, means for moving said detector plate to an intermediate position if said detector rod is moved away from either extreme position when said detector plate occupies a corresponding extreme position, a driving plate movable between two extreme positions, means including a driving arm carried by said detector plate and yieldably held in one position by spring means for normally causing said detector plate to move between its two extreme positions in response to the movement of said detector plate but for permitting said two plates to move relative to each other if said detector plate is prevented from moving to either extreme position or is moved from either extreme position to its intermediate position by said detector rod, and a plurality of contacts selectively controlled by said detector plate in accordance with the position of said detector plate.

17. A circuit controller comprising a detector rod movable between two extreme positions, a detector plate cooperating with said detector rod in such manner that said detector plate is free to move to one extreme position when and only when said detector rod occupies its one extreme position and to another extreme position when and only when said detector rod occupies its other extreme position, means for moving said detector plate to an intermediate position if said detector rod is moved away from either extreme position when said detector plate occupies a corresponding extreme position, a driving arm pivotally attached at one end to said driving plate and provided at its opposite end with a roller, an operating arm pivotally attached at one end to said detector plate and provided intermediate its ends with a notch which cooperates with said roller and biased to a position in which said notch receives said roller, means connected with said driving arm intermediate its ends for applying force to said driving arm to move said detector plate between its two extreme positions, and a contact controlled by said detector plate.

18. A circuit controller comprising a detector rod movable between two extreme positions, a detector plate cooperating with said detector rod in such manner that said detector plate is free to move to one extreme position when and only when said detector rod occupies its one extreme position and to another extreme position when and only when said detector rod occupies its other extreme position, means for moving said detector plate to an intermediate position if said detector rod is moved away from either extreme position when said detector plate occupies a corresponding extreme position, a driving arm pivotally attached at one end to said driving plate and provided at its opposite end with a roller, an operating arm pivotally attached at one end to said detector plate and provided intermediate its ends with a notch which cooperates with said roller and biased to a position in which said notch receives said roller, means connected with said driving arm intermediate its ends for applying force to said driving arm to move said detector plate between its two extreme positions, means effective if said roller is forced out of the notch in said operating arm for latching said operating arm in the position in which said roller is out of said notch, other means effective when said operating arm is latched in the position in which said roller is out of said notch for latching said detector plate in its intermediate position, and a plurality of contacts selectively controlled by said detector plate in accordance with the position of said detector plate.

19. A circuit controller comprising a detector rod movable between two extreme positions, a detector plate cooperating with said detector rod in such manner that said detector plate is free to move to one extreme position when and only when said detector rod occupies its one extreme position and to another extreme position when and only when said detector rod occupies its other extreme position, means for moving said detector plate to an intermediate position if said detector rod is moved away from either extreme position when said detector plate occupies a corresponding extreme position, a driving plate movable between two extreme positions, a driving arm pivotally attached at one end to said detector 1 ate and operatively connected intermediate its odds with said driving plate, spring pressed means cooperating with the free end of said arm to resist rotation of said arm about its pivot in resp e to relative movement of said two plates, relay said driving plate and said detector plate normally move in unison, means efiective upon displacement said spring pressed means for latching said detector plate in its intermediate position, and a contact controlled by said detector plate.

29. A circuit controller comprising a detector rod movable between two extreme positions, a detector plate cooperating with said detector rod in such manner that said detector plate is free to move to one extreme position when and only Wh a said detector rod occupies its one extreme position and to another extreme position when and only when said detector rod occupies its other me position, means for moving said detector e to an intermediate position if said detector d detector plate occupies a correspond- ;no position, a driving plate movable between two extreme positions, a driving arm pivotally attached at one end to said detector plate and operatively connected intermediate its ends with said driving plate, spring pressed means cooperating with the free end of said arm to resist rotation of said arm about its pivot in response to relative movement of said two plates, whereby said driving piate and said detector plate normally move in unison, means efiective upon displacement of said spring pressed means for latching said detector plate in its intermediate position, means effective upon release of said latching means for automatically restoring said two plates to their normal relative positions, and a contact controlled by said detector plate.

21. A circuit controller comprising a detector rod movable between two extreme positions, a detector pate cooperating with said detector rod in such manner that said detector plate is free to move to one extreme position when and only when said detector rod occupies its one extreme position and to another extreme position when and only when said detector rod occupies its other extreme position, means for moving said detector plate to an intermediate position if said detector rod is moved away from either extreme position When said detector plate occupies a corresponding extreme position, a driving arm pivotally attached at one end to said detector plate and provided at its opposite end with a roller, an operating arm pivotally attached at one end to said detector plate and provided in one side with a notch which cooperates with said roller and biased by means of a first spring to a position in which said notch receives said roller, whereby said driving arm is normaliy held in a fixed position relative to said detector plate, means connected intermediate its ends with said driving arm for applying a force to said driving arm to move said detector plate between its two extreme positions, a latch dog and a latch arm each pivotally attached to said detector plate and each biased to latching positions by means of a second spring which is weaker than said first spring, said latch dog being movable to its latching position when and only when the roller on said driving arm is forced out of the notch in said operating arm and being eiiective when moved to its latching position for retaining said operating arm in the position in which said roller is out of said notch and said latch arm being movable to its latching position when and only when said latch dog occupies its latching position and being effective when moved to its latching position for latching said detector plate in its intermediate position, and contacts selectively controlled by said detector plate.

22. A circuit controller for use in connection with a railway switch and switch operating apparatus of the type in which a switch locking slide bar is moved to an intermediate position prior to the movement of the operating rod which reverses the switch points and to one or the other of two locking positions after the completion of the movement of the operating rod depending upon the extreme position to which the switch points have been moved, said circuit controller comprising a detector rod connected with the switch points to move therewith and provided with a notch, a detector plate yieldably connected with the slide bar for movement at right angles to the detector rod in unison with the slide bar, said detector plate being provided with one roller which enters the notch in said detector red when and only when the switch points occupy one extreme position and are locked in such position by said slide bar and with another roller which enters the notch in said detector rod when and only when the switch points occupy the other extreme position and are locked in such position by said slide bar, and contacts operatively connected with said detector plate.

23. A circuit controller for use in connection with a railway switch and switch operating apparatus of the type in which a switch locking slide bar is moved to an intermediate position prior to the movement of the operating rod which reverses the switch points and to one or the other of two locking positions after the completion of the movement of the operating rod depending upon the extreme position to which the switch points have been moved, said circuit controller comprising a detector rod connected with the switch points to move therewith and provided with a notch, a detector plate yieldably connected with the side bar for movement between two extreme positions in unison with the slide bar and cooperating with said detector rod in such manner that said detector plate will be prevented from moving to either extreme position unless said detector rod has been moved by the switch points to a corresponding extreme position and that if said detector rod is moved while the switch points are locked said detector plate will be moved to its intermediate extreme position, latching means effective when said detector plate is moved to an intermediate extreme position due to said detector rod being moved away from either extreme position for latching said detector plate in its intermediate position, and contacts selectively controlled in accordance with the position of said detector plate.

24. In a circuit controller, in combination, a cam rotatable between two extreme positions and provided in its face with a pair of angularly and laterally spaced notches, a contact comprising a fixed contact member and a movable contact finger, and a roller secured to said contact finger and cooperating with said cam to move said finger into and out of engagement with said fixed contact finger, said roller being secured to said finger by means whereby the roller can be moved from a position in which it cooperates with one notch to a position in which it cooperates with the other notch to reverse the operation of the contact in relation to the cam without changing the contact adjustment.

25. In a circuit controller, in combination, a cam rotatable between two extreme positions and provided in its face with a pair of angularly and laterally spaced notches, a pair of contact fingers biased by their own resiliency to positions in which they engage fixed contact members to close contacts, an insulating bridge secured to said fingers, and a roller secured to said bridge for cooperation with said cam by means whereby the roller can be moved parallel to the axis of rotation of the cam from a position in which the roller aligns with one notch in one extreme position of the cam to a position in which it aligns with the other notch in the other extreme position of the cam, whereby the operation of the contacts can be reversed without changing their adjustment.

26. In a circuit controller, in combination, a cam rotatable between two extreme positions and provided in its face with a pair of angularly and laterally spaced notches, a pair of contact fingers biased by their own resiliency to positions in which they engage fixed contact members to close contacts, an insulating bridge secured to said fingers, a pin secured to said insulating bridge for movement at right angles to its axis toward and away from said cam between two extreme positions and having its axis extending parallel to the axis of rotation of said cam, a roller slidably mounted on said pin and movable axially along said pin from a position in which it aligns with the one notch in said cam in one extreme position of the cam to a position in which it aligns with the other notch in said cam in the other extreme position of the cam, and means for preventing axial movement of said roller on said pin when said roller is engaging said cam.

27. In a circuit controller, in combination, a cam rotatable between two extreme positions and provided in its face with a pair of laterally and angularly spaced recesses, a fixed contact member, a movable contact finger biased into engagement with said fixed contact member, a roller support adjustably secured to said movable contact finger, a pin mounted in said roller support with its axis extending parallel to the axis of rotation of said cam for movement between two extreme positions at right angles to the axis of said cam, a roller mounted on said pin and movable axially along said pin between a position in which said roller will enter the one notch in said cam in one position of the cam to a position in which said roller will enter the other notch in said cam in another position of the cam, and means for preventing axial movement of said roller when said roller is engaging said cam.

28. In a circuit controller, in combination, a cam rotatable between two extreme positions and provided in its face with a pair of laterally and angularly spaced recesses, a fixed contact member, a contact finger biased into engagement with said fixed contact member, a roller support ad- J'ustably secured to said movable contact finger, a pin mounted in said roller support with its axis extending parallel to the axis of rotation of said cam for movement between two extreme positions at right angles to the axis of said cam, a roller mounted on said pin and movable axially along said pin between a position in which said roller will enter the one notch in said cam in one position of the cam to a position in which said roller will enter the other notch in said cam in another position of the cam, means for preventing said roller from moving axially along said pin except when said pin occupies the extreme position nearest to the axis of rotation of said cam, the parts being so proportioned that said pin will normally be held in the extreme position farthest away from the axis of rotation of said cam during cooperation of said roller with said cam.

29. In a circuit controller, in combination, a cam rotatable between two. extreme positions and provided in its face with a pair of angularly and laterally spaced notches, a pair of contact fingers biased by their own resiliency to positions in which they engage fixed contact members to close contacts, an insulating bridge secured to said fingers, said bridge being provided with a vertical slot having its longer axis extending parallel tothe fingers and on one side adjacent said slot with serrations extending at right angles to said fingers, an insulating roller support provided with serrations which cooperate with the serrations on said bridge and secured to said bridge by means of a stud passing through said slot whereby said bridge may be locked in different longitudinal positions with respect to said fingers, and a roller mounted in said support for cooperation with one or the other of the notches in said cam.

30. In a circuit controller, in combination, a cam rotatable between two extreme positions and provided in its face with a pair of angularly and laterally spaced notches, a pair of contact fingers biased by their own resiliency to positions in which they engage fixed contact members to close contacts, an insulating bridge secured to said fingers, said bridge being provided with a vertical slot having its longer axis extending parallel to the fingers and on one side adjacent said slot with serrations extending at right angles to said fingers, an insulating ro1ler support provided with serrations which cooperate with the serrations on said bridge and secured to said bridge by means of a stud passing through said slot whereby said bridge may be locked in difierent longitudinal positions with respect to said fingers, a pin slidably mounted at its ends in slots formed in said roller support and having its axis extending parallel to the axis of rotation of said cam, a roller slidably mounted on said pin and movable axially along said pin from a position in which it aligns with the one notch in said cam in one extreme position of the cam to a position in which it aligns with the other notch in said cam in the other extreme position of the cam, and means for preventing axial movement of said ro1ler on said pin when said roller is engaging said cam.

WILLIAM C. MCWI-HRTER. EDWIN G. LITTLE. 

